Sensitive details published across multiple outlets before being hastily removed

Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrates after scoring during a friendly match against Iceland on Wednesday. [AFP]
Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrates after scoring during a friendly match against Iceland on Wednesday. [AFP]

Passport details of every player on Argentina's national soccer squad were accidentally exposed ahead of the 2026 North America World Cup, in a security lapse involving the defending champions.

Reuters reported Thursday that the passport information of all Argentina squad members — including Lionel Messi of Inter Miami — was leaked due to inadequate security management surrounding a friendly match against Iceland.

According to the report, a squad list distributed to media and the general public before Argentina's friendly against Iceland at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama, on Wednesday contained the players' passport numbers without redaction.

Iceland's players' passport numbers were not included in the document. The match drew a crowd of roughly 88,000, and images of the squad list were shared by multiple local outlets before being taken down.

Argentina, the 2022 Qatar World Cup champions, wrapped up their preparations for a second consecutive title with a 3-0 victory in what was their final warm-up match before the tournament.

Messi, appearing in his sixth World Cup, came on as a substitute in the 70th minute and added a penalty goal just two minutes later to help seal the win.

He had been managing a left hamstring issue that flared up during a club match on May 25, sitting out Argentina's friendly against Honduras on June 7 to focus on his recovery.

Argentina are drawn in Group J at the North America World Cup, where they will face Algeria, Austria and Jordan.


yjc@heraldcorp.com